Chapter 96 Who Dares to Compete with Me
The knight blocking their way rolled his eyes disdainfully, as if even looking at Anne one more time would dirty his eyes. "Go back to the Lion Knights. We can't accommodate someone like you here."
Someone nearby chimed in, "Don't think that just because you're Lord Daniel's granddaughter, you can do whatever you want. This is a military camp, not some noble lady's playground. If you want to fool around, do it in Lord Friedel's bed."
Everyone burst into laughter, their mockery and contempt almost drowning her.
Anne immediately knew this was Candy's doing again. That woman was best at throwing mud at others, then appearing with a righteous facade, making everyone believe she was the one in the right.
Cynthia had been fuming over the past few days' rumors. She'd sent letters back to the Yadleys, asking the family to teach the families behind Holden and Candy a lesson. But now? The whole camp was full of rumors, most about Anne, and the ones about her were even more infuriating—they actually said she was helping Anne trade her body for military achievements!
But with so many people, how could she teach them all a lesson one by one!
She pulled out an arrow, nocked it, drew the bow, and aimed at the knight blocking them. "You dare say that again!"
Samira was even angrier. A genius from the spear guild, she'd taken down hundreds if not thousands of criminals with her spear. Now she came to the battlefield to help Anne fight, only to be called a whore!
Screw that. With a flick of her spear, she sent that knight flying ten meters away. She asked through gritted teeth, "Anyone else want to block us?"
Anne also drew her sword, its blade silver-white. Of course she was angry. These rumors constantly put down her, Cynthia, and Samira. This Candy, herself a woman, was using the most vicious attacks against women to smear them. Truly evil.
And this was a military camp. Spreading such news in the camp, deliberately shaking morale—if Zotfort and Viller Empire's armies attacked now, how could Soth Empire hold them off!
What sinister intentions. This was forcing Friedel to deal with her, or making her prove her own abilities. But Anne thought, Candy was probably waiting for exactly this moment!
The knight who'd been thrown got up from the ground, still shouting defiantly, "Don't think doing this will make us let you in. Someone like you who only uses her body and background to get military achievements—I won't let you into Ivy Knights!"
"Even if you push me aside, my brothers behind me won't let you in either! Give up!"
"Are you done talking?"
Anne performed a beautiful sword flourish, raising her sword toward the stunned knight. "You've said so much, constantly saying I have no ability. Why not try it yourself?"
"Since His Majesty appointed me as Knight Commander of Ivy Knights, I'm now issuing an order. Anyone dissatisfied with me or who has objections can challenge me to a duel. Right now, you're the first."
The knight froze, then asked doubtfully, "You really want to compete with me? If you lose, don't go crying to Lord Friedel for revenge."
Anne's lips curved. "You got it wrong. When you lose, you'll apologize to me and my friends for your rudeness and spreading rumors."
"Make me apologize to a woman!?"
The knight's expression changed dramatically. With an angry face, he drew his sword. "Then let's do this. I won't go easy on you..."
Anne didn't want to hear his nonsense. She gripped her sword, and the moment she saw the knight raise his hand to swing, she frowned, stepped forward twice, and with a twist of her wrist, sent the man's sword flying.
Only when the sword hit the ground did the knight come to his senses. His expression changed from initial contempt to complete terror. "You!"
The next instant, the sword that had easily disarmed him was at his throat. Anne said coldly, "You can apologize now."
The crowd that had quieted down for the duel suddenly became noisy.
"Did you guys see her moves just now!?"
"How did she just rush up and knock the sword away? God, I still can't do that!"
"Isn't that guy who was blocking them Peter, who claims to be in the top ten swordsmen in the knights? How did he lose in the blink of an eye? Hey Peter, did you hold back or can you really not beat her?"
Peter was panicking now. Though the sword wasn't touching his skin, he believed that if he dared to struggle or move, this woman in front of him would definitely teach him a harsh lesson!
As for face, what was that compared to his life?
He said shakily, "S-sorry, Miss Anne."
Anne said flatly, "You got it wrong. In the military camp, there's no Miss Anne, only Knight Commander Anne."
"Yes! Knight Commander Anne, I'm sorry!" He raised his voice. "And you two over there, I'm sorry!"
Anne raised an eyebrow, withdrew the sword from Peter's neck, and asked coldly, "Anyone else want to challenge me? If so, stand out now. Don't just hide in corners like dark rats. I don't remember my grandfather having such trash under his command. If there are any, when I find them, I'll expel you from the order directly, never to return!"
"If you're from a family under the Kivara family, I'll also contact my grandfather's family to cut ties with you, so you can never use the Kivara family name to do business outside."
She raised her sword. "If you're a knight, stand out openly and duel me. If I lose, I'll leave Warlinekza immediately. But if you lose, from now on you must not only stop spreading rumors, but also catch those who spread them."
"Answer me, knights of Ivy Knights. Do you dare!"
At these words, the knight order fell completely silent. Even the three knight commanders who'd just been called out and the other knights were stunned.
The Lion Knights and Dawn Knight Order members watching from outside didn't dare speak either. Somehow, they actually felt pressure and a commanding presence from this woman.
After a long while, some skeptics stood out, pulling out their weapons.
Anne easily defeated everyone—swords, knives, even bows and arrows. When someone challenged her with archery, she sheathed Excalibur Destiny and borrowed Cynthia's bow.
Challenge after challenge, Cynthia's blood was pumping. Watching the defeated knights apologize one by one was incredibly satisfying!
So she didn't hesitate to take down her bow and arrows and hand them to Anne, giving her a wink. "Go for it, don't let my bow lose face."